Motor Vehicle Fatality 2000 Block Of Ambler Avenue (Press Release)

by Public Information Officer, Thursday, April 18, 2013, 17:13 (2136 days ago)

ABILENE, TX – On Thursday, April 18, 2013 at approximately 12:10 p.m., officers of the Abilene Police Department’s Patrol and Traffic Divisions responded to a call of a major motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Old Anson Road and Ambler Avenue. Initial reporting indicated that a pedestrian was involved in a single vehicle collision. Officers arrived and observed that a single vehicle had driven southbound on Old Anson Road and continued southbound over Ambler Avenue into an unoccupied building located on the south side of Ambler Avenue. The preliminary investigation revealed that there were multiple witnesses and that no pedestrian was involved in this collision. Rather, traffic investigators learned that the vehicle, a maroon single-cab 1976 Chevy C10 pickup, driven by Mr. Jeffrey Lynn Smith Jr. (age 29) drove through the building’s front façade and out the rear of the building before coming to a stop when it struck a tree at the rear of the building. There were three occupants in the vehicle before the collision. Just before colliding with the building, the underside of the pickup struck the north side driveway, causing the vehicle to become airborne. The front right passenger, identified as Mr. Oscar Garcia (age 31), exited the vehicle just prior to the pickup colliding with the building. Mr. Garcia also collided with the building where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by Justice of the Peace A. L. Deatherage.

Mr. Smith was taken to a local hospital by ambulance. The third occupant, identified later as Devante Dupree Hunter (age 18), left the scene prior to the arrival of fire, police and EMS personnel. Mr. Hunter was identified at a local hospital where he had checked-in for his injuries.

At this point in the investigation it is unknown what the exact circumstances were that led to the collision. The vehicle sustained major front-end damage. Mr. Smith was alert when taken to the hospital and received non-incapacitating injuries. Mr. Hunter also received non-incapacitating injuries. Both men were later discharged from the hospital. Alcohol is not believed to have been a contributing factor. It is undetermined at this time whether Smith or Hunter was wearing seatbelts.

No charges have been filed pending further investigation. More information may be released as the investigation allows.